Method of making nuts



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,238

P. H. M CAIN METHOD OF MAKING NUTS Filed March 17, 1924 Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL H. MCCAIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNO'R TO ECONOMY SCREW CORPORA- TION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

METHOD or MAKING NUTS.

Application filed March 17, 1924. Serial No. 699,769.

This invention relates to improvements in method of making nuts which are angular in cross section, preferably from round wire or stock, and has for one of its objects to simplify and reduce the cost of production of such nuts.

A further object is to provide an improved method of producing nuts and in which method the blank from which the nut is formed is simultaneously shaped and pierced by a stamping or pressing operation.

In carrying out this invention the stock or supply consists of a wire round in cross section from which blanks of any desired thickness are cut. The blank is then fed between the shaping die which flattens it to a desired thickness and at the same time chamfers the blank. The partially formed blank is then removed and fed to a trimming and piercing 2 die, the blank being forced through the trimming die, and as it is being forced therethrough it is trimmed and given the desired external configuration. During this step in the operation the blank is pierced and is carried by the piercing punch out of the trimming die to be delivered to a suitable receiver.

With this improved method the hole in the blank will be parallel with the side faces of and centrally located in the blank, thereby obviating the danger of breaking the threading tap as the latter passes into and through the aperture in the blank.

In the accompanying drawing there is diagrammatically represented an a paratus by 86 means of the use of which th1s improved method may be carried into operation, and in the drawing Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the blank and 0 one of the dies and punch in their relation to one of the steps in the operation of the method.

Figure 2 shows one of the'blanks after it has been partially shaped and the position of the punch in relation thereto.

Figure 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing another step in the operation and as the blank is being trimmed and pierced, and showing the position the parts will assume at the starting of this step in the operation.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a cutter and clamp for severing a blank from the stock and for carrying the same into a position so that the first step performed thereon.

- Figure 5 shows portions of the stock and the shapes of the blank after the diiferent steps in the method of shaping the same.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the blank and the means for holding the same in position to be engaged bya punch to be forced in the operation may be through the final trimming and piercing die. I

Figure 7 is a detail view in section, showing the support or rest for the partially formed blank just before the final step of the method is performed thereon.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral 10 designates a suitable supthe stock is held. during the positioning of the I blank for the first step in the operation of,

forming the same. Co-operating with the recess 14 is a spring arm or clamping member 16 for yieldingly holding the blank in position. The edge 17 of the support 10 constitutes a cutting edge which co-operates with the cutting edge of the cutter 13, and as the cutter 13 is reciprocated in any suitable manner such asby means of a cam 18 having a groove 19 therein to receive a projection 20 which is connected with the cutter 13, the end of the stock 12 which has been fed through the opening 11 will be severed. Just before the severing operation and as the cutter 13 advances, the clamping member 16 will yield so that the blank 15 which is cut from the end of the stock will be held in position and advanced with the cutter until the blank 15 is positioned over a chamfering die 21. The chamfering die 21 may be of any desired configurationand depth but is of a depth to permit the blank 15 to be compressed or fiattened to the desired thickness. This is accomplished by means of a plunger 22 operated in any suitable manner. Extending from the face of the plunger 22 is a projection 23 preferably of a conical formation which is adapted to engage the blank in advance of the face 24 of the plunger. This projection is provided for the purpose of permitting the cutter 13 and clamping member 16 to disengage the blank and to be retracted before the blank is compressed. When the blank is' moved to the position shown in Figure 1, that is in position with the chamfering die 21, it is engaged by a knock out pin 25, and the end of the pin 25 cooperates with the projection 23 for retaining the blank 15 in position. The plunger 22 is then advanced to exert an endwise pressure upon the blank 15 and the blank will then be flattened to the desired thickness (according to the stroke of the plunger 22) as shown at 26 in Figure 2. As the plunger is advanced the projection 23 thereon will form a recess 27 in one face of the blank and there will also be formed a circumferential flange 28 on the periphery of the blank.

When the plunger 22 is retracted the knock out pin 25 will eject the blank from the die 21. The blank is then fed in any suitable manner to a trimming and piercing die shown in Figure 3, preferably by means of a chute 29, the front of the chute being cut away as at 30 adjacent the trimming and piercing die 31. A rest or support 32 is provided so that the blank will rest thereupon as shown in Figure 7, when it assumes a position in front of the trimming die 31. A portion 33 of the stop 32 is preferably inclined towards the die 31 so as to insure the proper positioning of the blank 26. The die 31 is of any desired configuration in cross section but is preferably hexagonal as shown at 34, and the plunger 35 which co-operates with the die 31 is of the same confi ration in cross section so that when the p unger 35 is advanced to force the blank 26 into the trimming die 31 the plunger 35 will conform to the configuration of the die. When the blank 26 is in the position shown in Figure 3, the circumferential flange thereof will extend over the edge of the die so that when the plunger 35 is advanced and the blank 26 forced into the die 31, an annular portion 36 will be trimmed from the blank 26 and will be threaded upon the plunger 35. One or more cutting edges 37 may be provided on the plunger 35 so as to sever the annular elements 36 as they are forced thereagainst during the advancing movement of the die to permit the annular elements to disengage the plunger 53.

(lo-operating with the die 31 is a piercing punch 38 which is reciprocated in any desire or suitable manner, preferably through a plate or member 39 and this punch operates simultaneously with the plunger 35 to pierce the blank 26. The portion 40 cut out by the piercing punch 38 is fed through a channel or opening 41 in the punch 35 to be delivered therefrom during the operation of the punch.

The blank 26 after being pierced by the punch 38 is threaded upon the piercing punch 38 and when the latter is retracted the blank 26 will be stripped from the punch 38 by means of the plate or stop 39.

If desired and in order to hold the blank 26 in position to be engaged .by the punch 35 suitable spring fingers or clips 42 may be provided.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3, which is the initial position at the starting of this step of the operation, the piercing punch 38 will remain idle and the punch 25 will engage the blank 26 and force the same into the die 31 during which operation the annular portion 36 will be severed from the blank. The blank is further advanced by the punch 35 until it engages the piercing punch 38. A further advancement of the plunger 35 will cause the piercing punch 38 to remove or cut out the slug or portion 40, which latter will be fed into the passage 41 in the plunger 35. The punch 35 will then recede and after the unch 35 clears the die 31, the piercing punc 38 will then recede and draw the pierced blank 26 which has been threaded thereupon from the die 31 until the blank 26 engages the plate or stop 39, after which a further receding movement of the piercing punch 38 will strip the blank 26 from the piercing punch and the blank will be delivered from the machine. The piercing punch 38 then advances or moves into its operative position, as shown in Figure 3, into the die before a new nut blank is placed in position to be engaged by the punch 35. I

With this improved construction it will be manifest that a nut blank of any desired external configuration may be formed from round wire or stock.

It will also be manifest that inasmuch as the blank is trimmed" and pierced, at the same time the opening through the blank Will be parallel with the side walls of the exterior surface of the blank, thereby obviating the danger of injuring or breaking the tapping die as it passes into the opening in the blank.

While the preferred form of mechanism has been herein shown and described in connection with the carrying out of this improved method, it is to be understood that any other suitable mechanism adapted for the purpose ma be efli'cientl employed, and therefore it is esired that the drawing submitted herewith shall be considered as bein merely diagrammatic.

at is claimed as new is 1. The method of makin a nut which consists in subjecting ablan to pressure to shape one face thereof and form a flange upon the edge thereof, positioning said blank upon a die by means of said flange, exert-ing a pressing force throughout an annular region neeaaae upon said blank to force said blank into said die to remove said flange and to shape the side Walls of said nut, and exerting an opposing force to the region Within said annular 5 region to-pierce said blank ti'bile said blank is disposed Within said die,

2, The method of making a nut which consists in subjecting a blank to pressure to shape one face thereof and form a flange upon the edge thereof, positioning said blank upon a die by means of said flange, exerting pressure against said blank with an annular oWer transmitting means, said pressure bemg localized in an annular region, exerting pressure against the opposite side of said blank in a region localized interiorly of said annular region, and simultaneously deliver= ing the Waste material resulting from the application of said forces to said blank exteriorly and interiorly of said annular region.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 14th day of March A. D. 1924:.

PAUL H. MCCAIN. 

